Are You a Facebook Creeper?

The truth about Facebook creeping is that nearly everyone is tempted to do it at some point. Creeping on Facebook generally involves casually spying on others' Facebook pages, online posts, interactions with friends, or posted photos. The temptation to find out what someone else has been posting is often too much to resist.

Admittedly, I have done it. I've checked on past friends, linked though friends of friends pages to get the lowdown on what my teenager was up to, and even got a free scare looking up an old boss. I've laughed with my best friend over things we've found out about people by creeping on Facebook. Most people don't want to admit to Facebook creeping, but the truth is that many people do it.

Why do People Creep on Facebook?

Facebook offers a chance for people to find out what others have been up to without actually making a friend connection. There are times when sending a friend request would be awkward. You don't really want the person to be connected to your Facebook friends list or see your posts. Facebook creeping allows guilt-free access to checking up on people without the friend obligation.

Parents creep their teens at times to see who they are friends with or what they have been posting. It's more than curiosity in some cases. At times, creeping is the right thing to do. The social media equivalent to reading old school notes found in backpacks or doing a room check.

Curiosity is the number one reason most people creep on Facebook, however. There's that secret urge to find out what an ex is doing now or to view pictures of friends you haven't seen in a decade. It only gets labeled creeping because it's done covertly.

Admitting You are a Facebook Creeper

The first step for admitting to Facebook creeping is to at least admit to yourself that you've done it. A public declaration isn't necessary. Human nature is what it is. People want inside information without asking. It saves time, saves embarassing Facebook friend request rejections, and keeps you in touch with people without all the fuss of reading their 50 posts a day about their dramas.

If you can't admit to Facebook creeping you probably haven't explored the Facebook website long enough. Facebook fuels the fire by providing friend suggestions, leaving profiles open to the public when people do not know enough to change security settings, and by allowing users to see post comments by people who comment on your friends' walls.

Facebook creeping is just another name for curiosity. When it's done with good intentions, Facebook creeping is just one of the many things people do on Facebook.